What's New with Screen Education

Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R, OH-02) highlighted 2 research studies by Screen Education during his July 25th floor speech on school safety.

The purpose of Congressman Wenstrup's speech was 2 highlight the fact that 2 organizations within his district --- Screen Education and Bully Bully --- are actively working to better understand, and address, the problem of school bullying and violence.

In the speech he cited statistics from Screen Education's June, 2018, Teen Smartphone Addiction National Survey, which was done in collaboration with EMI Research Solutions and Stark Statistical Consulting. He specifically mentions that Screen Education's survey revealed that 68% of teens witness cyber bullying at least several times per year, that 31% have seen cyber bullying result in physical violence, and that 73% feel that social media use contributes to conditions that can result in school shootings.

Later in the speech he also cited findings from Screen Education's 2017 research with teens at Camp Livingston, a summer camp located in Bennington, Indiana. He specifically ighlights how teens are relieved to get away from their phones when they attend an overnight summer camp that doesn't permit smartphones --- that they are generally more engaged with each other and with recreational activities, and that they appreciate the opportunity to get to know each other through face-to-face communication, rather than the digital communication they often engage in with their close friends at home.

Michael Mercier, President of Screen Education, and Brian Lamar, VP of Insights at EMI Research Solutions, met with Congressman Wenstrup in early July to discuss this research. It was during that meeting that he decided that he would make this House floor speech. He was particularly interested in the implications our research had for understanding possible causes of school violence --- an issue that is of great concern to him.

During the meeting we also proposed future research regarding social media, bullying, and school violence, using Screen Education's Bullying Process Model to frame our discussion.